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Mary threw her keys onto the hall table. There was a definite clatter as each key hit the marble top. The sound echoed in her tiny apartment. She threw her bag of papers to grade on the couch, and prepared herself a drink, as she checked her messages on her answering machine.
"Hi, this is Mary, I'm not in right now, so leave a quick message with your phone number, and I'll call you back."
"Mar, its me, Kelsey, I really need to know whether you're in or out on this whole get away to New York thing. In order for the killer deals I found, I need to make the reservations like tomorrow. It's in two weeks. Call me on my cell. Later." Mary looked at her calendar. Her new best friend, Kelsey, had this big long weekend planned to go to New York City. But as the time came to reserve their hotel, Mary wasn't sure she wanted to go. She flipped to two weeks from that day. Nothing. Her calendar was completely empty. She flipped back to that week. Nothing. She quickly thumbed the whole book, empty except for her birthday, and school things.
"I am really pathetic." Mary said. She picked up a pencil off the counter, and scribbled in New York on the appropriate dates. She pushed the button for the next message.
"Mary, its Gretchen. I know that you have said know to the whole blind date thing, but I swear, I found the perfect guy for you. He's cute, he's funny, and you'll just love him. We'll double! How does that sound? It will ease the tension on you. I got to go. Call me, or I'll see you at work!" Mary stared at the answering machine like it was really Gretchen. A blind date, just what she needed. Gretchen was constantly trying to set Mary up. The funny thing, at least to Mary, was that she didn't really like Gretchen all that much. Just put up with her because they worked in the same department at the school, and because eventually Mary had hoped that Gretchen would give up.
"It's not going to happen Gretchen." She said to no one in particular. She quickly deleted the message, and went to the next one. She could easily pretend she never got the message. Lying comes naturally when one lies to live.
"Ms. Waters, this is Landon Repp, from Down the Street Real Estate, I think I found an apartment that fit the description you were asking for. Call me back during business hours; we can set up a time for you to check it out. Bye." She sighed a sigh of relief. Her cramped apartment was getting small for her likings. And in the winter, the cold air drafted through the windows. She had been looking for the perfect apartment, that she could afford with her teacher's salary.
Mary answered her calls, and then looked at her watch. There was still ten minutes until the Kings game started. Every part of Mary hated Kings games, except her heart. The sport of hockey bored her, but watching the people in the stands, He had once told her that he had season tickets to all of the home Kings games. She didn't know if he still did, but she still hoped to catch a glimpse of him in the stands. Just to be sure that Michael Vaughn was still ok. As the game started, she saw the lovers last meeting.
***Flashback***
Michael Vaughn looked up from his spot on the desk, to the sound of her clicking heals. A small smile spread across his face, as he saw her beautiful face, but it quickly fell as he felt the pain that she was suffering. He quickly approached her and hugged her, hoping to help her tear stained face smile. But the tears kept coming. "What is wrong Syd?" He demanded. Vaughn led her to the desk where he sat moments before, and had her sit next to him on it. He looked down at their entwined fingers.
"They caught us." She quietly whispered. She buried her head into his shoulders as the tears intensified.
"What do you mean?" He asked kissing the top of her head.
"They figured me out." She said again.
Vaughn was silent. It was his worst fear. Sydney's status had been exposed, putting her into more danger than he could ever imagine. In the far off distance, they could hear a car fast approaching. The sound of the busy street was always filling the silence, but this one was coming close to their spot at the warehouse. Vaughn cocked his head to see if he could identify the car. She didn't need to. Without moving her head off his shoulder. "It's my dad. He's bringing a new identity for me."
"You're entering the program?"
Sydney began to cry harder. "Yes."
"Who, where?" Jack's car parked.
"I don't know." She got off her chair, and looked at the emerald eyes that she loved. Through her tears, her soft lips touched his. "I love you Vaughn." She whispered, before running to her father's car.
Vaughn went running after her, but Jack stopped him. "Even you can't know where she's going." He simply said.
*** End Flashback***
Mary didn't realize she was crying as the scene no longer played in front of her eyes. She watched the game some more. During half time, she picked up the phone and dialed Kelsey's number.
"Hello?" A voice said.
"Hey Kelse. It's me."
"Hey Mar. Are you going to come?"
"I thought about not going for a while, but decided on going."
Kelsey squealed. "Oh I am so glad. I'm just going to go get reservations now!"
"Ok. Bye."
"Bye." Mary hung up the phone, and smiled.